MT SB92

Attorneys admitted to practice law in Montana would no longer be required to join or pay dues to the State Bar of Montana as a condition of licensure, making membership voluntary

The Montana Bar Association was originally established as a voluntary group in 1885; the Montana Supreme Court made membership mandatory by court order in 1974

The bill cites the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision Janus v. AFSCME regarding compelled union dues and First Amendment free speech rights as supporting rationale

The legislature argues the State Bar performs lobbying on controversial issues rather than constitutional functions like bar admission (handled by the attorneys' examining board) or attorney discipline (handled by the office of disciplinary counsel)

Effective date: July 1, 2026